Defunct publisher’s Oklahoma properties go to auction

Defunct publisher’s Oklahoma properties go to auction

OKLAHOMA CITY – Authorities in central Oklahoma are selling five properties associated with a defunct publishing company and its executives accused of embezzlement.

The Journal Record reports that the properties in Mustang and Yukon have a total appraised value of about $1.2 million. Minimum bids at the June 11 auction begin at two-thirds the appraisals.

The properties come from an October lawsuit filed by BancFirst seeking priority over Tate Publishing assets to pay off mortgage default balances worth nearly $700,000.

Richard and Ryan Tate face felony embezzlement, extortion and racketeering charges. An investigation by the state’s attorney general reveals the father-and-son operators had been transferring money from book and music publishing deals to their personal checking accounts for dining- and entertainment-related expenses.